Yesterday,
while I was in the Chiropractor’s office, I met a lady that had
some very, very serious health issues (that didn’t relate to
Chiropractic problems). I was so impressed with her positive attitude
that we had a lengthy discussion. Just before the doctor came to
treat me, I told her about “the duck” and she laughed and
laughed. We both felt better.
Just
by chance, I saw this joke again and thought I would share it with
you. Unlike yesterday, however, I began to think about in other ways.
Once you read the following Scripture, I think you will see what I
mean...
Luke
16 ( World English
Bible )
19 “Now
there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine
linen, living in luxury every day. 20 A
certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of
sores, 21 and
desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s
table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The
beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s
bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 23 In
Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham
far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. 24 He
cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my
tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. 26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. 26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
To
me, this parable has taken on a new meaning:
If
you don’t listen to God, there will be consequences!
To
put it another way:
Your
duck
is
dead